Assembling apparatus.



F. J. THOMAS.

ASSEMBLING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12. 1912.

Patentd 1m. 12, 1916.

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Patented Dec. 12,1916.

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FREDERICK J. TECUMAS, or rarm'ron, massaonusnr'rs, assmrrora, BY mnszm .MElfiIlElN- answers, are new ENGLANIU oonraorronanv' CflClMIE'AMY, or nosron', Massaonn examine, a. oonronaarlon' or massaonnsprais.

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chusetts, have invented an Improvement in Assembling Apparatus, of which the follow ing description, in connection with the acconipanyiiig drawings, is a specification, like" characters on the drawings representing lik parts. i i

Th's invention consists of improvements in ma hines for assembling in compact relation a series of thin, flat articles such aswafers or the like.

In the disclosed einbodimentof the invent tion the same is shown, forillustr'ative purposes, as applied to a machine for the as semblage of a stacked series of confection wafers, but it Ihay have applicationto widely different purposes.

The invention 'will be best understood by reference to the following description when taken in connection withthe accom anying illustration of one specific embodlment thereof, while its scope will he more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a machine embodying one form of the invention; Fig; 2 is an, elevation in.

partial section taken on; the line 2--M in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 1s a front elevation of a part of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1, showing the delivery parts for-delivering the wafers to the stack-holding channels; Fig. i is'a' plan view of the machine shownin Fig. 1 showing a few of the waters in process of advancement; Fig. 5 is a plan with the delivery parts removed showing the. actuating mechanism below the-same; ti is a sec" tional. detail in plain showing; the vihrating plunger-s or tappers; Fig. 7 is an end view of several channels; Fig. 8 is an elevation in section taken through oneofthe plungers and the inclined wide therefor; and Fig. 9 is a view similar to l'ltg. 8 showing the plunger in its forward, position.

Referring to the drawings and to the em bodimeut of the invention there illustrated,

the latter is shown applied to a machine for assembling in compact stacked relation a series of flat, thiindislr like wafers. The

Elpecification of Letters Itjatent.

Patented not. 12, rare.

Application filed January 12, 1912. Serial No. 670,743.

lhl operation of assembling wafers of this type in a compact series preparatoryto wrapping thenrin cylindrical packages consumes a great deal of time. when done by hand and where a large bulk of such articles is handled. The described form of machine provides means for receiving such articles in bulk and automatically assembling them in a packed column or row, face to face, so that as each row or column is formed an ap-- propriate' number may be removed therefrom either by hand or automatically and wrapped into a cylindrical package in pre cisely the relation they occupy in the series. Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, a frame 1 is f provided, with the overhanging extension 9;, on which is lined a hopper 3 adapted to oeive the wafers in hulk. fleneath the hopper there is placed an inclined tray 4: which substantially closes the hottom of the hopper 1 except for a small spare or outlet 5 at the j'front'lower end of the hopper, the height oi.

which outlet may be regulated by means of "the vertically adjustable gate The position of the latter can he regulated hy the wing nuts 7 applied to bolts which ass through the vertical slots 8 in the gate. "he rear end of the tray'is hung" upon or attached to the hopper by means of a, single central hanger iron 9 or other suitable attachrnent and the lower and rests upon a transverse rod 10 secured to the frame so that a certain amount of lateral play or vihratiol'i is permitted the tray beneath the hopper. l ,e

' The wafers are assisted in passing'througrh the outlet 5 upon the hy imparting to the latter a lateral vibratoryrnovemcnt so that the wafers tend gravitate down the tray and out through the outlet 5 as the tray is shaken or vibrated. To vibrate the tray, the latter has attached thereto at its forward end (see Figs. 1 and ll the lateral rod 11 connected to the arm 152, which latter is attached to upright roch. shaft 13. Near itslower end Fig. 5) the reel: shaft 13 has fixed thereon the arm. i l con nested to the vibratory rod 15, the latter in turn being attached to a roclrcr arm 18 on the horizontal roch' shaft 17, the movement of which latter will he more fully referred to. If the wafers pass out of the hopper on to the tray piled up one on another, or if they tend to heap up on the tray, the upper wafers are pushed back so as to allow the passage of the underiuost layer only. Any suitable means may be used for this purpose, such as the brush 4, which is rotated in the direction of the arrow, or reversely to the travel of the wafers, and the bristles of which pass above the tray leaving a clearance sutiicient to allow the passage of one layer of waters. Those which are heaped upon the lowermost layer are moved back toward the hopper until opportunity is offered for them to move down in contact with the tray itself. The brush is journaled in brackets l which may be vertically adjusted to vary the height of the brush.

The waters which gravitate down the tray are delivered flatwise 1n rows to an la k -1 ing horizontal feed apron 18. To assist in the formation of pronounced or defined rows before the wafers are delivered to the apron, they are first'caused to pass into row-forming guides on'the tray, such guides being formed by providing the 'wafer-traversed face of the same with longitudinal partition Walls 19, so that a row formation is enforced upon the wafers grayitating down the tray and they are delivered to the apron. in a se ries of separated rows.

To move the feed apron 18, the latter passes over rollers 21 and 22, the former I being driven (see Figs. 1, 4 and 5) by any 7 suitable means such as the chain 23, the

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driven sprocket wheel 24, and the driving sprocket wheel 25. The latter is on the same shaft with the gear 26 which in turn s driven by the pinion 27 on the main driving shaft 28, the latter being driven from any suitable source of power by means of the belt 29 and pulley '30.

When received by the feed-apron 18 the wafers are carried along on suitable guiding devices in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. l by which devices they are guided to and presented each one in succession to the rear end of a column consisting of wafers already stackedin fall to fall relation. Each wafer is presented between the end of the column and suitable devices which bring it into alinement and stacked relation with the column and which also preferably advance it with the column to make way for the next succeeding wafer. Referring'to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 4 and 8 such guiding devices are in the form of inclined guides 31, the upper edgesrof which are beveled so as to lie close against the surface of the apron 18 near the forward end.

of the latter, and the opposite or lower ends of which terminate each in incline scent of the wafer. and also deposits it in a substantially'upright position. in the under a sharp or ,abrupt lying stack holder orgichuuml; .3 Each the wafers at the mout which serves to accelerate the ,de'

guide consists of a bottom piece 31 and the sides 34 and is also preferably provided with an elongated discharge opening 35 of such shape and size as to pass broken Wafers and pieces and deposit them below the guide and mow-forming guides on the trayand each one alines with a corresponding one on the tray so that each row of wafers delivered to the apron by the tray subsequently passes with certainty upon the corresponding and alined inclined guide 31.

If desired the may be omitted or may be differently spaced from the guides 31, so that the wafers are deliveredto the apron without reference to the formation of pronounced rows. Under such conditions they readilyfind their way each into the mouth of one of the guides, b ing deflected toward the guide month by t e ends of the guide sides 34 even though not directly alined with the guides. The feeding is assisted, however by the formw than of rowsas described, and the r'owdorm ilig guides are preferably employed as described. I

To avoid the clogging or heaping up of s of thegnides or 'the delivery to the guides of onewafer on top of another, means are preferably provided for'working back upon the apron any wafers which accumulate at the entrance of the guides. For this purpose I have provided a brush 20 (see Fig. 8} which is located adjacent the mouths of the guides and which rotates in a direction op osed to the partitions 19cm the tray travel of the apron, leaving su cient clearl'lO end of the brush shaft may be provided with I a belt connection indicated at 20 for driving the brush 4. v The wafers travel down each row under the influence of gravity. Their gravity actuated descent may be assisted by the influence of the push given them by the upper-most wafer which is being delivered to the row by the traveling apron 18, or mechanical feeding means for this purpose. The inclination is preferably suflicient to cause them to travel easily but quickly down the incline until the abrupt inclination at 32 is reached.

lVhen a wafer such as the one represented in 8 at 0 reaches the sharp incline 32 it drops quickly and almost instantamay be employed 33 falling in approximate upright position such as is assume by the wafer designated a. To revent .the wafer from overshooting the esired' position in case its gravityactuated descent along the incline 31 is too rapid, means may be employed .to guide or direct it so that it will fall with certainty down the sharp incline 32 in an upright position as indicated. Herein for that uil'er deflector 50 comprising a small piece of felt or other similar yieldable material which is held that the wafer descending the inclin guide 31 ,will strike the same and be de cted downlthe sharp incline, 32 if .its 5 tends to car it beyoiid the sha incline. The soft an yielding nature of t e feltiprevents any injury or damage to the wafer, A strip or piece of felt '50 is held over each guideway by means of the transverse supporting rod 51.

To right the into stacked tion to the preceding column means are provided at the and in alinement with the-column to tap the back 'of the wafer and stack it against the column, such means also serving to advance the column to make way for the next wafer afid change the relation of the wafers from that shown in Fig. 8 to that shown in Fig. 9. Any suitable means may be provided for this purpose, but herein a vibratory tapping plunger 36v is employed fworki in'a cylindrical attachment 37 at the bee and bottom of the inclined guide portion 32, one such plunger being provided for each guide, as represented 1n Fi 6. Each plunger is preferably given a leldable, reciprocatorygnovementf'of .suitab e ex-- tent by appropriate means such as the actuating rod 38 (Figs. 6 and 8 the forward end of which is fastened to t e plunger andthe opposite end of which-is provided withspaced abutments such as the ad'ustable nuts 39 and 40. To vibrate the r 38 the same passes loosely throughthe eye &1 of the rock lever 42, the eye being confined between the abutments 39 and 46 and the sprin d3 being interposed between the eye and t e'abutment 39. As the lever arm 4.2 is rocked forward, therefore, it exerts a jdeldableipremure against the plunger and moves the same from the position shown in Fig.8 to that shown in Fig.9. 7 1 Each lever armd2 is mounted upon a roolt shaft Miwhich latter is reciprocate'd b "means of.the rock arm 45, the rod and eccentric 47, the latter secured to-the main I power shaft 28. As the eccentric turps, each plunger is advanced from-the position shown ,j nFlg. 8 -to tha't shown in Qand then :2 retracted .to permit the succee ing a descend As the plungers are reciproeated 1;!5 ,they are caused to exert the required mp urose I have provided a flexible or yielding;

deposited wafer and bring it i and alined relation with rela back of the inclined guide product.

at the of wafer to pin movement upon gachwafer as it drops, wit out, however, applying suliicient shock to break the same.

Each stack holder, as comprises a channel having a ed to the shape of the wafers,

shown in Fig. 7,

shape adaptand curvilincar in shape where wafers of the disk form.

are used, and 1s prolonged to a sufiicient length to permit the of wafers of any required number. The result is that in the series of parallel stack holding channels 33 there continue to be progressively formation of a column "iii formed parallel columns of;

wafers in stacked relation so that from then);

may be selected from time to time eith'ei'f automatically or manually he number of wafers required to constitute; a package and in exactly the condition required'for wrag ping them, BK increasing the width oft machine and t e number of channel guides, the capacit of the-machine may obviously be increase opt by suitable dies from a-plastic mixture, and this process of formation results-in'a 'Candy wafers are customarily stamped greater or less uniformity in the fragile This has made it difiicuft to stack wafers of this description but the above de--.

scribed machine is qualified to perform the operationefiectively nd with certainty. While the described em iment of the invention is intended particularly for the handling'of wafers of the described or simi lar type, it-may be usefully employed for,

the stacking or packing of disk-like or thin, flat articles of other descriptions and the invention is in no wise limited to the parties.- lar use herein made of the same.

WhileI have herein shown and described for purposes of illustration one specific em-- bodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that .the same is not limited to the form or relative arrangement of 'arts or the details .of construction shown, extensive deviations'may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit thereof.

Claims: 1. In a machine for assembling wafersjn stacked relation the combination with a stack holder 33 having a series of grooves therein, of a corresponding series of inclined ides 31 lea'ding to said grooves and-hav mg elongated openings 35 'to discharge pieces ofxbroken .wafers' therefrom, means 4-, 19 toiseparate, the wafers into rows and deliver the:" s ameflllto said inclined guides,

clined guides, and means to reci rocate said- Pmnggm e vance ,the mm in,

grooves.

gslel vawz:mans a he r rpm ii .,p 1 'yent 'accumulation of the" vRhe" nclined "guides, plu'ngeif's iifi' gsa d stack; holder and ina stationary inclined chutehaving an end portion formed to present an incline sharper than that of the body of the chute, a fixed deflector cooperating with said sharper incline for inverting the wafers from flat to- 'upset position, a movable apron for delivering the Wafers to said chute a rotary brush located substantially at the juncture of said apron and chute and means for rotating said brush oppositely to the direction of travel'of the wafers for. preventing their piling on the chute.

3. In a machine for assembling thin, flatlike articles in compact series, the combination with a stack-holder of delivery means therefor including a hopper, a transversely vibratory tray having row forming guides for receiving the'articles from said hopper, a rotary brush above said tray for preventing the piling up of the articles on said tray,

I a chute, an apron for conveying the articles from said tray to said chute, and a rotary brush located substantially at the juncture of said apron and chute for preventing the piling up of the articles on the latter. v

4. In a machine for assembling wafers in stacked relation, the combination with a stack holder of an inclined guide having an abruptly inclined delivery end adapted to deliver wafers in succession to said stack holder, means for feeding wafers to said guide, and reciprm-atory stacking means comprising a plunger alined with said stack holder and adapted to engage the back of the deposited wafer-and means for yield-ably moving said plunger. y

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

FREDERICK J. THOMAS.

\Vitnesses:

PHILIP AJWATER, ERxEs'r V NORMAN.

Corrections in Letters Patent No 1,208,402.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,208,402, granted December 12,

1916, upon the application of Frederick J. Thnmm, of Tmmbon, Massachusetts, for

' an in: rovement in "Assvmh'in A luratus," errors a ear in the rintod a P g PI PP cation requiring correction as follows: Page 1, line 62, fur the word "packed" feed stacked; page 2, lim- 75, for the mm! "through" read though. and that the said Letters Patent slmuld he read with those corrections therein that. the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent. Oflin'c.

Signed and sealed this 23d day of January, A. 1)., 1917.

F. w. H. CLAY, Acting Commissioner of PM.

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